Betsy DeVos Clears First Vote to Become Secretary of Education

Nine Democrats haven't yet made public statements on her nomination, but Sen.

DeVos had a rocky confirmation hearing.

Yesterday's U.S. Senate Education Committee vote resulted in a 12-11 approval of MI nominee Betsy DeVos. Also, more than 1,000 Calvin College alumni and students recently signed a letter stating why they think their fellow alumna DeVos isn't qualified to be Secretary of Education. The phones and fax machines were inundated. His communications director in Washington, D.C. has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Gym and her staff had been hopeful that the pressure would have an effect, seeing signs of some receptivity to the message and a nod to the magnitude of the constituent response.

Dichele is anxious that DeVos being Secretary of Education will not allow for public school systems to be funded in the way they should be. Both Republicans routinely helped advance President Barack Obama's nominations, as well. "I want to do what I can to ensure DeVos is not confirmed".

"Her concentration on charter schools and vouchers, however, raises question about whether or not she fully appreciates that the secretary of education's primary focus must be on helping states. strengthen our public schools".

The seats reserved for the 10 Democrats on the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee were empty as Wednesday's meeting to discuss to nomination of Scott Pruitt was called to order. In her home state of MI, she pushed relentlessly for charter expansion, and most Detroit schools are now charters, about 80 percent of them run for profit. "She is smart, she is capable, her only agenda is getting disadvantaged students into schools that are best for them".

Particularly troublesome is her position on students with disabilities, Gym said.

While many Democrats were already opposed to her push for voucher programs and charter schools, her bid to lead the Education Department was further damaged during her confirmation hearing, when DeVos appeared to be unfamiliar with the basics of federal special education law.

"That's the silver lining", she said.

"It is hard to predict the outcome if DeVos is chosen for Secretary of Education". Murkowski said she's heard from thousands of Alaskans who are concerned that Betsy DeVos lacks public school experience, and Murkowski said she shares that concern.

"Ms. DeVos is the product of her experience". Rather, Mrs. DeVos is a billionaire donor who has spent her fortune on the campaigns of Republican politicians and on advancing her risky ideologies. She and her husband, Dick DeVos, president of the Windquest Group, donated $22 million to the center's program to train managers and boards of arts institutions, which carries their name. That was one of the highest individual totals, behind only Sen. Almost a decade ago, her Political Action Committee was hit with a record $5.3 million fine for its blatant violation of OH campaign finance law.

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